Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) • Supports the development of innovative technology to facilitate access to information by all Americans, including those with disabilities.

TIA Works to Help People with Hearing Loss TIA works with these organizations to support initiatives to help those with hearing loss: • Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) • Gallaudet RERC on Telecommunications Access • Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee (TEITAC) • National Association for Deaf • U. S. Access Board • Federal Communications Commission

Hearing Aid Interference from Cordless Telephones The story behind the development of TIA-1083

Consumer Complaints In 2004, telephone manufacturers began to receive customer complaints regarding hearing aid interference problems with digital cordless telephones. Specifically consumers were hearing a buzz noise when using digital cordless telephones with hearing aids and cochlear implants when set to T-Coil mode. There were no reports of the buzz noise from analog cordless telephones.

Industry Response At the August 2004 meeting of TIA Subcommittee TR 41. 3 a Gallaudet University presentation on the subject was discussed along with possible causes for the reported interference. The consensus belief was that, due to the low RF power levels used by cordless phones, the source of the reported interference was probably magnetic. Further work towards confirming this belief and developing a testing method to characterize the magnetic interference was conducted during the remainder of 2004 and first half of 2005.

Why was this happening? Digital Spread Spectrum (DSS) cordless phones alternate sending and receiving on the same frequency. To accomplish this the RF transmitter in the cordless handset is turned on and off at a very rapid rate. This results in large changes in battery current which in turn cause large changes in the magnetic field produced by the wiring in the handset. This magnetic pulsing was being picked up by the -Coil in the hearing aid and heard as a loud buzzing noise by the wearer. T

HLAA Studies 2005 HLAA National Convention Study conducted by Linda Kozma-Spytek of the Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center (RERC) on Telecommunications Access and the Technology Access Program at Gallaudet University. Volunteers from among the HLAA Convention attendees tested a group of phones and rated their performance. – – – Loudness Percent Words Understood Interference Usability “Would you buy a phone with this level of interference? ”

HLAA Studies 2006 HLAA National Convention Study conducted by Gallaudet University, Etymotic Research and Motorola. Volunteers from among the HLAA attendees participated in this study and helped to answer the question: “How much noise is too much noise? ”

TIA Completes Development of New Standard Results from the two HLAA Studies were compared with lab measurements by TIA member companies. Performance Requirements Established Compliant phones tested by wearers of hearing aids and cochlear implants with good results.

KX-TG 2388 B: Bone Conduction Cordless Phone User’s Voice "With this phone I can hear almost like before I lost my hearing. " - Carlos F (only has 30% in one ear) "Amazing phone!" - Michele M (wears hearing aids in both ears) "It has been years since I could use the phone. I can finally talk to my grandkids!" - John H (wears hearing aids in both ears) "Finally they've made a phone for me, what a wonderful company!“ - Mary L (wears hearing aids in both ears)

The Future of TIA-1083 On May 30, 2008 TIA took a significant step in expanding TIA-1083 by sending a proposed addendum to ballot. The new addendum would include testing methods for phones with digital interfaces, allowing the standard to be applied to telephones utilizing newer technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Voice over Internet Protocol (Vo. IP), Bluetooth® and USB. The voting period for this standard closes July 15, 2008 and could be published as soon as September 2008.

Thank you. For a demonstration of the phones presented go to booths 403/405/407. www. tiaonline. org